CHIMPANZEE MAULS TWO MONTH OLD BABY TO DEATH IN MASINDI

By Andama Moses.

Masindi

There was shock in Katugo 2 village in Nyantonzi subcounty Nyantonzi parish in Masindi district after 2 month old baby was killed by chimpanzee.

According to Robert Ntegeka conservationist with UWA, the incident happened inside the Budongo forest about 500 meters.

Ntegeka, says five women had gone to fetch firewood as Saturday is always gazetted for community, but when they sat down as a group after fetching firewood, the mother of the baby identified as Shakira Bako realised that some insect was bitting her and decided to remove the baby from her back and put down as she tried to remove the insect.

Its believed within that short time, colleagues show chimpanzee coming towards them and everyone decided to take off for their lives including the mother of the child but unfortunately in the process of running with the baby on her hands, she was hit by an obstacle and felt down. with the baby hence giving opportunity to chimpanzee that was closely following her to pick the child.

Ntegeka adds that when the chimpanzee took the baby, Bako cried out for help from the colleagues but they couldn’t help her since most of them were fearing.

Later on, the colleagues gained courage and started making an alarm that attracted attention of other community members who intervened and mounted search in the forest only to find lifeless baby.

Ntegeka says something need to be done since this is the 3rd time within period of 2 month chimpanzee grabbing children and two loosing their lives within the same sub county.

He advised the community members not to always move with children in the forest as well as well as move in group of 10 people. For their security.

Ntegeka also warmed the community against scaring those wild animals saying chimpanzees are good at studying body languages when you are good to them, they can also be good

When contacted, the community conservation liaisons officer Budongo forest Wilson Kagoro expressed sympathy for the Family of the child.

Kagoro says he had shared with the Family already the procedure of compensation since chimpanzee is among the compensable animals under wild life act 2019.

He however advised the Family to first report the matter at police before issues of compensation kicks off.